Homeowner kitchen drain unclogger and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for flushing a fluid drain; the apparatus includes a water supply interface, a drain line interface, and a conduit. The water supply interface is configured to hydraulically couple with a water supply, such as a water supply for a kitchen sink. The water supply interface includes a threaded connector for threadably engaging with the water supply. The drain line interface is able to hydraulically couple with a drain line. The drain line interface includes a stepped adapter which is able to couple with one of a selection of drain lines having disparate diameters, so that the system may be used with a variety of sizes of drain lines. The conduit extends between the water supply interface and the drain line interface, hydraulically coupling the two components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/590,938 filed Nov. 27, 2017, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of plumbing ofexisting art and more specifically relates to a drainage adapter.

RELATED ART

Kitchen sink drains are intended to convey water and similar fluids fromthe sink to an exterior location. In practical use, however, othermaterials for which the drain was not intended will invariably enter thesink drain. As a result, sink drains can become heavily clogged withvarious types of debris. Severe clogs may require calling a professionalplumber to remove the clog. This process can be expensive. If a clog isleft to buildup, kitchen sinks may begin to develop unwanted odors ormay stop draining entirely. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,514 to Floyd Miller relates to a drain cleaningdevice. The described drain cleaning device includes a cleaningapparatus able to unclog or clean drain pipes or other conduits bydirecting high pressure water into contact with any solids in the pipecomprising a spray nozzle mounted in the end of a flexible water supplytube having, surrounding the nozzle, self-centering fingers integrallyformed by cutting slits or notches in the end of the supply tube andthen inserting the nozzle which radially spreads the fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known drainageadapter art, the present disclosure provides a homeowner's kitchen drainunclogger and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure,which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide ahomeowner's kitchen drain unclogger and method.

A plumbing adapter or apparatus for flushing a fluid drain is disclosedherein. The apparatus for flushing a fluid drain includes a water supplyinterface, a drain line interface, and a conduit extending between andhydraulically coupling the water supply interface and the drain lineinterface. The water supply interface is configured to hydraulicallycouple with a water supply, and includes a threaded connector. The drainline interface is configured to hydraulically couple with one of aplurality of drain lines, and includes a stepped adapter configured tocouple with each of the plurality of drain lines.

According to another embodiment, a method for removing a drainobstruction is also disclosed herein. The method for removing a drainobstruction includes providing the apparatus for flushing the fluiddrain, as described above; attaching the water supply interface and thedrain line interface to the conduit; coupling the water supply interfaceto the water supply, such that the water supply interface ishydraulically coupled to the water supply; hydraulically coupling thedrain line interface to the drain line; opening the water supply;flowing a quantity of water from the water supply to the drain line; andflushing an obstruction from the drain line with the quantity of water.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, ahomeowner's kitchen drain unclogger/apparatus for flushing a fluid drainand method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for flushing a fluid drainduring an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detail views of the drain line interface of theapparatus t of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the conduit of the apparatus of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for removing adrain obstruction, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to adrainage adapter and more particularly to a homeowner's kitchen drainunclogger or apparatus for flushing a fluid drain and method forremoving a drain obstruction.

Generally, the homeowner's drain unclogger provides homeowners with anapparatus capable of removing tough clogs in the pipe system. It mayhelp homeowners to remove clogs with ease, potentially saving extensiveamounts of money on calling a plumber or other professional to removethe clog. The apparatus may be configured as a kit including an adapterfor a water source, and adapter for a drain, and a coupling portion. Incombination the components of the kit may effectively direct pressurizedwater from the water source to the drain, thereby breaking up the debrisand allowing fluids to freely pass through the drain pipe. It may beeasily installed by a homeowner on any kitchen sink drain system forswift removal of a clog. The apparatus may offer a simple, inexpensive,and reusable method for removing clogs in a kitchen sink drain.

The homeowner's kitchen drain unclogger may be designed or arranged as ado-it-yourself set of tools used to remove heavy clogs from a sinkdrain. The system/apparatus may help eliminate calling and paying aplumber to resolve clogged drain problems. Parts of the apparatus may bemade of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and include an inlet for a watersource and a drain adapter for spraying water into the drain pipe. Userscan disconnect the existing kitchen drain assembly, disconnect the hotwater supply line, and attach the kitchen drain unclogging kit to thedrain pipe underneath the sink. The kit hot water supply hose is thenattached to the hot water stop waste valve. The hot water supply linecan then be turned on and the adapter is utilized to unclog the drain.Once the drain is cleared, a reverse process is completed to disassemblethe kit/apparatus, and restore the sink plumbing to its originalconfiguration. The kit can be stored in a toolbox or other similar boxand reused as needed. The homeowner's kitchen drain unclogger can beconstructed using PVC pipe, aluminum, and other suitable materials. Thekit may be constructed for a particular size of drain, such asone-and-a-half-inch or two-inch diameter pipes. In addition, thehomeowner's kitchen drain unclogger is not limited in utility to sinkdrains or kitchen applications, but may also be useful for clearingother drains and plumbing systems, for example, bath tub drains. Exactsize, measurement, construction, and design specifications may vary uponmanufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of an apparatusfor flushing a fluid drain 100.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for flushing a fluid drain during an ‘in-use’condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Here, the sink is removed for visibility of the installed apparatus 100.Apparatus 100 may be beneficial for use to remove an obstruction from adrain 10. Apparatus 100 may be configured to flush fluid drain 10. Asillustrated, the apparatus 100 may include a water supply interface 110,a drain line interface 120, and a conduit 130. The water supplyinterface 110 may be configured to hydraulically couple with the watersupply 20. The drain line interface 120 may be configured tohydraulically couple with the fluid drain 10. The conduit 130 may joinand extend between water supply interface 110 and the drain lineinterface 120, such that water supply interface 110, conduit 130, anddrain line interface 120 are hydraulically coupled, enabling fluidcommunication from the water supply 20 into the fluid drain 10.

Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, underappropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences,design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost,available materials, technological advances, etc., other structuralarrangements such as, for example, alternative conduit angles,alternative fixture and sealing methods, etc., may be sufficient. Thosewith ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon readingthis specification and by their understanding the art of plumbing asdescribed herein, methods of adapting a fluid source to a drain will beunderstood by those knowledgeable in such art.

According to one embodiment, the apparatus 100 may be arranged as a kit105. In particular, the apparatus 100 may further include a set ofinstructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functionalrelationships in relation to the structure of the apparatus 100 suchthat the apparatus 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in apreferred manner.

FIG. 2 an exploded view of the apparatus for flushing a fluid drain 100of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asabove, the apparatus 100 may include the water supply interface 110, thedrain line interface 120, and the conduit 130 extending between, andmechanically connecting and hydraulically coupling the water supplyinterface 110 and the drain line interface 120.

The water supply interface 110 may include a threaded connector 112. Thethreaded connector 112 of water supply interface 110 may be internallythreaded and configured to fasten to a male pipe thread 25 of the watersupply 20. In one embodiment, threaded connector 112 of water supplyinterface 110 may be a one-half inch fitting. The water supply interface110 may include a flexible hose 114, which may have sufficientflexibility to be manually manipulated.

The drain line interface 120 may include a stepped adapter 122configured to couple to the fluid drain 10 (FIG. 1).

The conduit 130 may include at least one threaded adapter 132. At leastone threaded adapter 132 may be configured to threadably couple to thedrain line interface 120, and alternately to the water supply interface110. As shown, the conduit 130 may also include a right angle elbow 134disposed between the water supply interface 110 and the drain lineinterface 120.

The drain line interface 120 and the conduit 130 may be made ofpolyvinyl chloride (PVC), aluminum, and alternately of cast iron. In apreferred embodiment, the water supply interface 110 may be made of abraided stainless-steel tubing.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of the drain line interface of the apparatusfor flushing a fluid drain 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Drain line interface 120 may be configured tohydraulically couple with one of plurality of drain lines 21, 22.Stepped adapter 122 may be suitable for coupling with the plurality ofdrain lines 21, 22 by either press fit (drain line 22) or threaded means(drain line 21).

In one embodiment, stepped adapter 122 of drain line interface 120 mayinclude plurality of smooth bores 124 (i.e., each having a distinctdiameter). The plurality of smooth bores 124 may be configured to pressfit onto one of plurality of drain lines 22. In another embodiment,stepped adapter 122 of drain line interface 120 may include plurality ofinternally threaded bores 126 (i.e., each having a distinct diameter).The plurality of internally threaded bores 126 may be configured tothreadably engage at least one of plurality of drain lines 21.

The stepped adapter 122 of drain line interface 120 may include aselection comprising any of a one-and-a-half inch bore, aone-and-three-quarters inch bore, a two inch bore, and other sizes. Apreferred embodiment may specifically include of a one-and-a-half inchbore, a one-and-three-quarters inch bore, and a two inch bore incombination.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a view of the conduit of the apparatus forflushing a fluid drain 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Conduit 130 may be a composite member including a 90degree elbow joint 136 and a threaded conduit-adapter 138. The threadedconduit-adapter 138 may be straight-walled tube 139 having a threadedportion configured to hydraulically couple the 90 degree elbow joint 136to the water supply interface 110 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for removal of a drainobstruction, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Inparticular, the method 500 for removal of a drain obstruction mayinclude one or more components or features of the apparatus for flushinga fluid drain 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method 500 mayinclude the steps of: step one 501, providing the apparatus for flushingthe fluid drain, the apparatus including the water supply interface, thewater supply interface configured to hydraulically couple with the watersupply, the water supply interface including the threaded connector, thedrain line interface, the drain line interface configured tohydraulically couple with one of the plurality of drain lines, the drainline interface including the stepped adapter configured to couple witheach of the plurality of drain lines, and the conduit extending betweenand hydraulically coupling the water supply interface and the drain lineinterface; step two 502, attaching the water supply interface and thedrain line interface to the conduit; step three 503, coupling the watersupply interface to the water supply, such that the water supplyinterface is hydraulically coupled to the water supply; step four 504,hydraulically coupling the drain line interface to the drain line; stepfive 505, opening the water supply; step six 506, flowing a quantity ofwater from the water supply to the drain line; step seven 507, flushingan obstruction from the drain line with the quantity of water.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user preference. Theuse of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claimsherein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances,considering such issues as design preference, user preferences,marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, availablematerials, technological advances, etc., other methods for removal of adrain obstruction, are taught herein.

The embodiments of the disclosure described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. An apparatus for flushing a fluid drain, the apparatus comprising: a water supply interface, the water supply interface configured to hydraulically couple with a water supply, the water supply interface including a threaded connector; a drain line interface, the drain line interface configured to hydraulically couple with one of a plurality of drain lines, the drain line interface including a stepped adapter configured to couple with each of the plurality of drain lines; and a conduit extending between and hydraulically coupling the water supply interface and the drain line interface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water supply interface includes a flexible hose having sufficient flexibility to be manually manipulated by a user.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a plurality of smooth bores configured to press fit onto one of the plurality of drain lines.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a plurality of internally threaded bores configured to threadably engage at least one of the plurality of drain lines.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit further includes at least one threaded adapter configured to threadably couple to the drain line interface, and alternately to the water supply interface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit further includes a right angle elbow between the water supply interface and the drain line interface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a one-and-a-half inch bore.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a one-and-three-quarters inch bore.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a two inch bore.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threaded connector of the water supply interface is a one-half inch fitting.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the threaded connector of the water supply interface is internally threaded, being configured to fasten to a male pipe thread.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drain line interface and the conduit are made of polyvinyl chloride.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drain line interface and the conduit are made of aluminum.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drain line interface and the conduit are made of cast iron.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water supply interface is made of a braided stainless-steel tubing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is a composite member including an elbow joint and a threaded conduit-adapter, the threaded conduit-adapter being a straight-walled tube configured to hydraulically couple the elbow joint to the water supply interface.
 17. A plumbing adapter for flushing a fluid drain, the plumbing adapter comprising: a water supply interface, the water supply interface configured to hydraulically couple with a water supply, the water supply interface including a threaded connector; a drain line interface, the drain line interface configured to hydraulically couple with one of a plurality of drain lines, the drain line interface including a stepped adapter configured to couple with each of the plurality of drain lines; and a conduit extending between and hydraulically coupling the water supply interface and the drain line interface; and wherein the water supply interface includes a flexible hose having sufficient flexibility to be manually manipulated by a user; wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes a plurality of internally threaded bores configured to threadably engage at least one of the plurality of drain lines; wherein the conduit further includes at least one threaded adapter configured to threadably couple to the drain line interface, and alternately to the water supply interface; wherein the conduit further includes a right angle elbow between the water supply interface and the drain line interface; wherein the stepped adapter of the drain line interface includes at least a one-and-a-half inch bore and a two-inch bore; wherein the threaded connector of the water supply interface is a one-half inch fitting; and wherein the threaded connector of the water supply interface is internally threaded, being configured to fasten to a male pipe thread.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the plumbing conduit is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method for removing a drain obstruction, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plumbing adapter for flushing a fluid drain, the plumbing adapter including: a water supply interface, the water supply interface configured to hydraulically couple with a water supply, the water supply interface including a threaded connector, a drain line interface, the drain line interface configured to hydraulically couple with one of a plurality of drain lines, the drain line interface including a stepped adapter configured to couple with each of the plurality of drain lines, and a conduit extending between and hydraulically coupling the water supply interface and the drain line interface; attaching the water supply interface and the drain line interface to the conduit; coupling the water supply interface to the water supply, such that the water supply interface is hydraulically coupled to the water supply; hydraulically coupling the drain line interface to the drain line; opening the water supply; flowing a quantity of water from the water supply to the drain line; and flushing an obstruction from the drain line with the quantity of water. 